oldfatgit
Well-Known Member
Personnally, when in the med, I prefer to moor bow to using a kedge over the stern rather than stern to. It is much easier and more private.
Stern to mooring
- Thread starter seanfoster
- Start date
lille_bee
Well-Known Member
On behalf of all of us "SWMBOs" who man the windlass: THANK YOU!!! Recognition at last!!!
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Except if you have a boat with a high bow like most modern boats of any size and the passarell is at the stern!
lille_bee
Well-Known Member
Get a Centre cockpit- best of both worlds!
prv
Well-Known Member
I see plenty of boats with ladders of some variety hooked over the bow. I'd rather my cockpit had a sea view than faced into the street.
Pete
seanfoster
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone for your replies, some very useful info, I think I'll definately have a good few hours doing practice runs.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Yes, although I would hesitate to call a Sadler 34 a 'modern boat', it is very difficult to climb over it as it overhangs by some margin. We have given some thought to having it modified so we can walk through but instead decided to opt for improving the transom and always go stern to. Adding a platform and passerelle have made all the difference.
One of the factors that influenced this decision is that twice I have had lazy lines astern cut by adjacent boats after getting the rope around their props. At least if they get chain around it the bread knife is less likely to cut through it. Not always though, my son had his anchor chain cut by another boat that fouled him when at anchor.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Yes, so do I. Just persuade SWBO (who is excellent with the anchor bit) that is better than a nice teak grid passarell - or me for that matter.
Never bothered by people being able to see into the cockpit - what they see is just the same as any other so they lose interest quickly.
lille_bee
Well-Known Member
Stern to cock ups (the rope bit)
Happy with all of the above advice but don't forget the equally critical area of actually attaching the floating thing (the boat) to the non-floating thing (the land).
Make sure your mooring warps are organised.
1. Keep it short, We've all seen someone throw a mile long tangle of spaghetti to the poor sod on the quay side with that "your problem now pal" look on their face.
2. Make sure it is attached to you. It may seem obvious, but how manyy times have you stood on a quayside with both ends of a bit of rope in your hand.
3. Take the warp outside everything. There is nothing worse than ripping someone's guardrail out as you pull in their mooring warp. Take the tail end over the top of the pushpit, back through the fairlead and cleat off.
4. How do you want to be attached. Make a decision, do you want a slip line (make it long enough) or do you want it tied to a ring (round turn and 2 halfs), or is a bollard waiting for you (bowline)... nose in first and have a look to see what's waiting for you. Personally we never use slip lines until we are just about to leave, as it tends to chew up the middle of the rope instead of just at one end.
5. No swimming between the stern and the concrete. Throw the mooring warp ashore, if you try stepping ashore while carrying it, sods law says that is when it will snag and stop you in mid air.
6. Check your lines. If some willing but unknown person tied you on, do you really want to head off for the taverna without checking.
7. Do you need help. If you are on the quayside, as someone is parking, ask them if they would like you to take their lines, they may want to pratice as a couple for the day when their is no-one to help.
Regards
John and Elsa
Happy with all of the above advice but don't forget the equally critical area of actually attaching the floating thing (the boat) to the non-floating thing (the land).
Make sure your mooring warps are organised.
1. Keep it short, We've all seen someone throw a mile long tangle of spaghetti to the poor sod on the quay side with that "your problem now pal" look on their face.
2. Make sure it is attached to you. It may seem obvious, but how manyy times have you stood on a quayside with both ends of a bit of rope in your hand.
3. Take the warp outside everything. There is nothing worse than ripping someone's guardrail out as you pull in their mooring warp. Take the tail end over the top of the pushpit, back through the fairlead and cleat off.
4. How do you want to be attached. Make a decision, do you want a slip line (make it long enough) or do you want it tied to a ring (round turn and 2 halfs), or is a bollard waiting for you (bowline)... nose in first and have a look to see what's waiting for you. Personally we never use slip lines until we are just about to leave, as it tends to chew up the middle of the rope instead of just at one end.
5. No swimming between the stern and the concrete. Throw the mooring warp ashore, if you try stepping ashore while carrying it, sods law says that is when it will snag and stop you in mid air.
6. Check your lines. If some willing but unknown person tied you on, do you really want to head off for the taverna without checking.
7. Do you need help. If you are on the quayside, as someone is parking, ask them if they would like you to take their lines, they may want to pratice as a couple for the day when their is no-one to help.
Regards
John and Elsa
Last edited:
Mrnotming
Well-Known Member
screamed at from the pontoon!
A great fund of knowledge here in this thread, all of it relevant too!
Biggest challenge last year was Alghero, in a 30kt crosswind.High speed was the answer, about 4.4knots keeps the boat on track, BIG round fender low down on stern lip in case you catch a plastic bag at the last moment, engage full ahead when stern 8 feet from pontoon, water boils up convincingly as you almost hit the pontoon, screaming subsides, applause begins,skipper's tremens abates. This was a lazy line type situation so this was collected at our ease, short lines pre-rigged from the centre cleats made fast to adjacent yachts.I liked the tip about facing the way the boat is going, I have to force myself to do this, and it really helps, the response is car-like if wheel steered.And I never can get to the gloves in time!I have a two blade fixed prop, which gives some degree of reassurance.If going in bow-first with a folder, engaging reverse can result in no power as the blades may not open due to the rush of water from forward during the change from forward to reverse.This may sound obscure, but it has happened to me with fortunately only dented pride as I had to call for the heavy gang to arrrest my progress!Great replies to this query from an anxious skipper, well done forum!Good sailing now in 2010 from a frozen Dublin.
A great fund of knowledge here in this thread, all of it relevant too!
Biggest challenge last year was Alghero, in a 30kt crosswind.High speed was the answer, about 4.4knots keeps the boat on track, BIG round fender low down on stern lip in case you catch a plastic bag at the last moment, engage full ahead when stern 8 feet from pontoon, water boils up convincingly as you almost hit the pontoon, screaming subsides, applause begins,skipper's tremens abates. This was a lazy line type situation so this was collected at our ease, short lines pre-rigged from the centre cleats made fast to adjacent yachts.I liked the tip about facing the way the boat is going, I have to force myself to do this, and it really helps, the response is car-like if wheel steered.And I never can get to the gloves in time!I have a two blade fixed prop, which gives some degree of reassurance.If going in bow-first with a folder, engaging reverse can result in no power as the blades may not open due to the rush of water from forward during the change from forward to reverse.This may sound obscure, but it has happened to me with fortunately only dented pride as I had to call for the heavy gang to arrrest my progress!Great replies to this query from an anxious skipper, well done forum!Good sailing now in 2010 from a frozen Dublin.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
It was in Alghero that one of our cut stern warp incidents occurred. The large mobo decided to leave the town quay in a good crosswind, where he had been berthed alongside us. I was amazed when he moved out at about half a knot, immediately blew down and picked up our stern warp on his prop.
The man in the water is standing on our warp, the one by the tender is holding a bread knife and diving to cut the line. We managed to stop him before he set us loose, a marinero arrived and we transferred to another line before he cut. If we had not been on board he would have cut and gone.
chrisgee
Well-Known Member
STERN TO MOORING
Lots of sound advice on here as always but you might think this one ridiculous but it happened in Sami in a bit of a blow last year:-
We were all having some dificulties in this small harbour and a good cross wind but 12 or so yachts all got in with a bit of toing and froing until a 40 ft Sunsail yacht came in with a skipper who thought it was all so easy that he would back in with his MAIN STILL UP! ( and sheeted in!).Somehow he almost made it back towards the quay when a gust took him sideways into another yacht whose owner was so taken aback he hardly had the temerity to ask the offending skipper what the f--k was occurin.
He managed to go out again without writing anyone off and with Main rolled in and lots of hands on the dock to assist he eventually tied up. We have all made cock ups mooring but I don`t think this guy will ever live this one down although it did provide the afternoon entertainment and surprisingly enough everyone was ok about it in the end.
Lots of sound advice on here as always but you might think this one ridiculous but it happened in Sami in a bit of a blow last year:-
We were all having some dificulties in this small harbour and a good cross wind but 12 or so yachts all got in with a bit of toing and froing until a 40 ft Sunsail yacht came in with a skipper who thought it was all so easy that he would back in with his MAIN STILL UP! ( and sheeted in!).Somehow he almost made it back towards the quay when a gust took him sideways into another yacht whose owner was so taken aback he hardly had the temerity to ask the offending skipper what the f--k was occurin.
He managed to go out again without writing anyone off and with Main rolled in and lots of hands on the dock to assist he eventually tied up. We have all made cock ups mooring but I don`t think this guy will ever live this one down although it did provide the afternoon entertainment and surprisingly enough everyone was ok about it in the end.
twinkeel
Active Member
all good stuff
One good thing to do is look hard at what those already on the quay have done and how they are lying ( Applies in all sorts of situations really )
Few years back we failed to notice that many of the boats were bow to. Only found out the reason as the rudder touched a stone ledge protruding under water !
Quick exit, shuffle the warps and back in, bow to.
It does help on privacy if you are bow to but depends on the situation. If its a small place with little tourism then stern to helms 'meet the neighbours'. on the other hand if the quay is loaded with tourists and mopeds then bow to works best.
Most modern charter boats will likely have a split pulpit so getting ashore no real problem.
Have fun and ignore all the advice from the shore as you come in !
One good thing to do is look hard at what those already on the quay have done and how they are lying ( Applies in all sorts of situations really )
Few years back we failed to notice that many of the boats were bow to. Only found out the reason as the rudder touched a stone ledge protruding under water !
Quick exit, shuffle the warps and back in, bow to.
It does help on privacy if you are bow to but depends on the situation. If its a small place with little tourism then stern to helms 'meet the neighbours'. on the other hand if the quay is loaded with tourists and mopeds then bow to works best.
Most modern charter boats will likely have a split pulpit so getting ashore no real problem.
Have fun and ignore all the advice from the shore as you come in !
upcountry2
Well-Known Member
prv
Well-Known Member
They may have that look on their face, but it most certainly is not the sod on the quayside's problem. In his position I'd whack a quick bowline in the end round a cleat or bollard and leave them to pull in the spaghetti themselves.
Pete
Cariadco
Well-Known Member
Mooring????
I've been manouvering my Dad's fishing heaps for years, when I was a kid. I allways managed to get the boat spot-on alongside the Buoy, and all the old man had to do was lean over and pick it up.
However, many years later I was the proud owner of a Beneteau Oceanis 390. The thing had a mind of it's own. I had that boat for nearly 10 years, and NEVER mastered reversing the bloody thing in. Sometime the prop-wash swapped sides!! sometimes it steared astern perfectly, and every variation in-between!The only thing that remained constant was that going astern would never be predicatable!!
Now I'm the proud owner of a 54 footer, with no Bow Thruster, and it goes astern like magic!! I reckon I could fit the thing into a gap, with 6 inches gap to each side. It's amazing. The only weird thing is that it has two helms, and helming on the S/B side causing an off-centre line of sight.
I think back to all the hysterics of reversing the Beneteau...the dread of a cross wind....all gone now.....
I suppose my point is, is that a lot of going astern, depends on the boat and all the variables that come with the miriad of hull underwater influences.
That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!!!
I've been manouvering my Dad's fishing heaps for years, when I was a kid. I allways managed to get the boat spot-on alongside the Buoy, and all the old man had to do was lean over and pick it up.
However, many years later I was the proud owner of a Beneteau Oceanis 390. The thing had a mind of it's own. I had that boat for nearly 10 years, and NEVER mastered reversing the bloody thing in. Sometime the prop-wash swapped sides!! sometimes it steared astern perfectly, and every variation in-between!The only thing that remained constant was that going astern would never be predicatable!!
Now I'm the proud owner of a 54 footer, with no Bow Thruster, and it goes astern like magic!! I reckon I could fit the thing into a gap, with 6 inches gap to each side. It's amazing. The only weird thing is that it has two helms, and helming on the S/B side causing an off-centre line of sight.
I think back to all the hysterics of reversing the Beneteau...the dread of a cross wind....all gone now.....
I suppose my point is, is that a lot of going astern, depends on the boat and all the variables that come with the miriad of hull underwater influences.
That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!!!
affinite
Well-Known Member
My 2 pence worth
All good advice but in addition I'd add ...
DO start your reverse to the quay further out than you think.
If you simply motor up to the anchoring point and start reversing you will miss the sweet spot every time because of windage, prop walk etc.
You should go WELL PAST the drop point before starting to reverse.
Making allowance for windage and other anchor lines, set the boat going in a nice line towards the quay and aim to reverse over the drop point. Being well out give you plenty of time to make corrections.
I second the advice of using the windlass's clutch to let the chain go quickly (particularly if in deep water) but BEFORE trying to anchor, do get the bow person to get the anchor over the roller and ready to drop and test that he/she can release the clutch.
It is very embarrasing to find yourself at the quayside having made a text book reverse, thrown your upwind stern line ashore to the eager hands of one of the assembled audience only then to turn round to find the anchor still sitting on the bow roller and SWMBO shrieking towards the (apparantly deaf) skipper who had overtightened the windlass clutch at the last anchrorage (My own personal c**k up)
Finally, once safely in the harbour, DO join the ranks of the bar stool experts and enjoy a cold one watching everyone else's screw ups.
All good advice but in addition I'd add ...
DO start your reverse to the quay further out than you think.
If you simply motor up to the anchoring point and start reversing you will miss the sweet spot every time because of windage, prop walk etc.
You should go WELL PAST the drop point before starting to reverse.
Making allowance for windage and other anchor lines, set the boat going in a nice line towards the quay and aim to reverse over the drop point. Being well out give you plenty of time to make corrections.
I second the advice of using the windlass's clutch to let the chain go quickly (particularly if in deep water) but BEFORE trying to anchor, do get the bow person to get the anchor over the roller and ready to drop and test that he/she can release the clutch.
It is very embarrasing to find yourself at the quayside having made a text book reverse, thrown your upwind stern line ashore to the eager hands of one of the assembled audience only then to turn round to find the anchor still sitting on the bow roller and SWMBO shrieking towards the (apparantly deaf) skipper who had overtightened the windlass clutch at the last anchrorage (My own personal c**k up)
Finally, once safely in the harbour, DO join the ranks of the bar stool experts and enjoy a cold one watching everyone else's screw ups.